Stagger

Amos 8:11-12 NKJV  11 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD,

"That I will send a famine on the land,

Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water,

But of hearing the words of the LORD.

12 They shall wander from sea to sea,

And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.

About fifteen years ago, there was teaching going out for people to null their crop that was sowed in the time of the "unrepentant heart". So many teachers went about teaching others to call their crop a failure and told them to speak of the failed crop, act like they were beginning anew, but what was truly required, was a heart change toward God. 
What ever we sow with our mouths, we will reap!

So sad that many discover the judgement upon them when the evidence is revealed in tumult and anguish where they have no peace. Is that not what we see today in world leaders who lead by their quivering lips of anger because of what either occurred in an election or a change in those coming into leadership within companies? 
What was sown last year, or even what was sown some 15 years ago is undoubtedly that we see today! When truth is not given, then what you have is confusion and that is of the enemy. It amounts to destruction and famine of God's word that is life to us.

In this passage above we find a famine. And in this famine we are told, 

"They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it" (Amos 8:12). 

From sea to sea is most likely the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, east to west, and adds "north to east," describing a triangle with the south direction left out. Why would he do this?
When actually looking at the map of the land mass from the Dead Sea in the east, the Mediterranean to the west then most certainly the nation to the north would that of Israel. And what lies to the south is Jerusalem, where the truth was! In Amos' day, the truth was taught in God's Temple in Jerusalem. The Israelite's wanted to be known as seekers of the truth, but in reality they did not want it. Their pride would not allow them pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the truth, for that meant they would need to humble themselves before the Word of God.

Do we humble ourselves to the word of God? 

From verse 12 to wander means they scatter, and it also means that they quiver or waver in what is spoken. They wander through life, staggering with those quivering lips because they are so angry and possibly so fearful they become the one unable to speak. And do we not see agitated people today? People want answers but they are looking to man instead of God for the answer they require! Their response to any answer, if it is not the one they seek, they blow out in anger, and vehement hate.

We can see today when people choose to make their own rules and expect everyone to live by them. But that is why we have the system of putting people into leadership that makes for right ways to bring safe passages for people to benefit from for life.

Interestingly enough, wise men came from the east to find the star that led them to the city of David. The men of Israel that day did not notice anything other than when the entourage appeared in asking where the birth of the new king was at! Now remember there was those times when the merchants from other countries came into the city with their wares to make those business deals. But these men did not come to make business, they were seeking the new KING!

Of course, we know how they, the wise men would have known that mystery of the star in the sky as the teachings of Daniel would have given to people of Babylon to instill truth in a pagan society. You know that when the teenage boy, Daniel in 605 B.C. was deported to Babylon, he would most like give the word of God to those who would hear. The treasures of of Solomon's palace and temple would have been transported as well when Daniel was moved to another region. It is certain that when Daniel saw those very articles used by others of another culture and country that had been used in the temple worship to his God or that which spoken of Solomon in all his wealth, his mind would turn to the greatness of God who grants wisdom. And in his time of prayer, he would be the man who would influence a king and much more. The things concerning Jesus would have been given to him like the kingdom being established on the earth: Daniel 2:44-45, Daniel 7: 26-27, the false prophet was given in Daniel 7:8,20-21, Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 11:36-45.

And those of Babylon studied the stars. We know the Magi were Eastern Astrologers.  Theirs was the sophisticated science at this period of time and their visit emphasized Jesus' identity as KING. They were those who exposed the truth of His birth in Bethlehem. They emphasized their faith and worship that was in contrast to the Jewish hostility. Yes, these bearers of the message of the newborn king represented a great threat to Herod who was king at the time of the Christ's birth!

So Israel was visited by Magi, those regarded as an elite political and spiritual force that had exercised authority since before the time of Daniel, who was appointed as one of their number (Daniel 2:48; 5:11).  These were the same considered as those who were the interpreters of dreams (Daniel 2:2; 4:7) and possessors of secret knowledge of the planets & the stars (see Esther 1:13). Owing to the presence of the exiled Jewish community in Babylon during the captivity, the Jewish Scriptures had become part of the magi’s vast accumulation of knowledge. 
Daniel was noted as a 'wise man" in Daniel 2:48 then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.

Wise men came to worship the new King who was born king of the Jews, yet they neither looked for Jesus or expected Him.  Herod did not know this vital information and was troubled by what the Magi told him. And even Herod then inquired of the priests and scribes where the Christ was to be born that it was in secret, he called the Magi to determine what time the star appeared: yes he was a sneaky snake! His only plan was to be rid of this thing he did not want to know nor hear about a coming king!

This group came in with gifts for the newborn king!  They worshiped Him as their God:they brought frankincense, as their King they gave Him gold, and the myrrh for suffering and death that Jesus would experience. 

The Frankincense, that fragrance of a sweet perfume symbolizes Christs obedience not only to the Cross, but also His intercession through the saints that brings this scent of prayer to pleasing the Father.

It is mentioned in Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Another is found in Revelation 5:8 Now when He had taken the scrolls, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Another is found in Revelation 8:3-4: Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar, He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. From this we see that the prayers of all the saints avail to bring upon the Earth the judgments of God. This is revealed to be upon the rebellious to come to repentance and then to cause also a partial vindication of God's justice.

Yes, this was the offerings of the wise men to the infant Savior we read about in Matthew 2:11! Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

It was men who came from the east to seek Him out while his own did not make an attempt to look for HIM, yet the prophet revealed His coming from Matthew 2:5.  We should not be borrowing truth, but know the truth that was manifested to us: His name is Jesus!

Was hearing a teaching this last weekend by Dr. Robert Jeffress out of Dallas, Texas. His teaching was profound to me in that he taught many believe Jesus will spend all His time with them when they get to heaven. But what he taught that would not be so. He taught that if we do not call on Him today in prayer, what makes you think you can will have a picnic lunch with Him when you get there? People must call on Him now and know Him!
It is by faith we fight the war with the enemy. Either we will believe Jesus and pray or we will accept the enemies verdict and continue to stagger, to quiver and lose to anger and those stakes are high to lose one's life!

Should not that sweetness be revealed in our speaking, our giving as in tithes and offerings, to doing something for another like even sending a card to someone to mention something that touched your heart, to touch theirs? A young friend of ours has written many songs of worship to our Father God. She has many that just come as she worships before prayer and even after prayer. We have had opportunity to hear some of them, but one was of profound worship of a heart renewed to God. 

In her singing of this worship, she sings of the Keeper of the Flame and within that much is revealed of a sweetness from one who keeps prayer active in her life. It is because the heart will reveal that which is sweet unto the Lord, from the Lord and is pleasing to God our Father. Do we exude sweetness? Do our words speak healing or are our words to harass and cut down another? For when we speak those words with no life they continue to cut our own heart and then, that given reveals bitterness of anger, bitterness of pride, a bitterness of hate. 
What came out of Babylon was not to be a part of Daniel when he went there as the youth. He was steadfast in faith to God in and by prayer. For it is a Jezebel spirit that came from there, that cult of the goddess from Babylon where Ishtar was worshiped with its immoral rites by hands of men and women.

 It is this spirit that endorses the lusts of the flesh and neglects the worship of our Lord in spirit and in truth. The Jezebel spirit operates in the false and fraudulent, though believable to the weak in spirit, you know those who do not want the Lord in the spirit and in the truth!. No this spirit is one showing the skill in achieving one's end by deceit or by evasion. Have we not seen that in today's society?

Let's be those who come to Jesus, seek to know all that He came to give us for ultimately it was a great cost to Him, but should it not be a cost to us to remain with Him? How about the cost to humble ones self to pray for others?
And I close with this: My sister sent me testimony of a man who died but came back to life equipped with a message from the Lord. Now this was many years ago and he and his wife believed the duty was to go to many states, many churches to deliver the message from the Lord at that time, and even today he continues to still speak and teach. In these last months he spoke, "people are still indulging in their wealth and pleasures". 

In his speaking and teaching he said: " Jesus did not say take up your roses and follow Me, He said to take up his cross and follow Him"!
The other thing he mentioned was this from verse 28-30 of Chapter 12 in the book of John: Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, " An angel has spoken to Him." 30 Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
Yes, let's know that God has a voice and it can sound like thunder and that which was given at that moment on that day Jesus heard His Father speak.

 But the thing I would point out is verse 31-32 "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 'And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself."
Exalt Jesus in your life and in your service to draw men to Him. We are to practice citizenship that is of heaven, but it is the world's system that is opposed to the kingdom of God.
Glory was seen in Jesus, in Daniel, but will it be seen in us?

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

The Declaring Word

https://youtu.be/A2PL0YCBfec

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Strength Beyond our Own

https://youtu.be/WJERMPG-ebc

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

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Increments of Time

Was working on a teaching for this week, and I thought how my life and those I know have had an amount of years given to each stage of life. In that I mean the amount of time like that which is given to study, but also to marriage, and to having children. Within that, I thought of those who give time to study for a degree in medicine, to learn a specific field and train well in it for another increment of time. For those choosing to become teachers will give time to knowing when their skill learned will bring them a paycheck to make that house payment and pay the electric bill.

In other people's lives, I have seen those who set a time to start their family where both the mother and father have the advantage to be up front and center to care for those newest family members' arrival! In that regard, those who have their children in school might return to a field that they learned while they studied in college or they might choose to go into another field and study a new thing to be active in for another amount of time taken to enrich their life even further.

The list for those occupations include police officers, firefighters, welders, electricians, the doctor, the lawyer, the teacher, janitors, window-washers and even those who are of the clergy. And certainly one in study would like no distractions while they are learning either a trade or being a surgeon. But no matter the field of study, all is important to mankind, just ask the one who requires their appendix removed, or ask the qualified welder when a metal bridge in Oregon has been torn apart by an approaching ship and the bridge is used for passenger trains into the state of Washington.

When thinking of travel in the winter months to work, my husband considers what the temperature outside is, and what, if any precipitation is falling from the sky. The determining factor is anything below 32 degrees with rain can mean that the south side of Columbia river is I-84 running from the east to the west into Portland, Oregon may not have been treated for ice on the roadway!

But did you know there were increments of time given in the Old Testament to declare the Lord Jesus' coming and that salvation would be His goal? Did you know those spoken words were given to alert you and me of His coming and the place He has for each of us?

Moses spoke of Jesus the Messiah, Numbers 24:17-19  I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult. 18 and Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, and destroy the remains of the city.

 Isaiah 53 speaks of the Messiah’s suffering  Isaiah 53:2-5 NKJV For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, & as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken smitten by God and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.

His ministry would destroy the works of the devil: Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.

 (fulfilled in 1 John 3:8) He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus would preach righteousness to Israel Psalm 40:6-9 NKJV "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. 7 Then I said, "Behold I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart." 9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know.

(fulfilled in Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Christ’s Ministry would begin in Galilee:Isaiah 9:2  The people walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.

(fulfilled in Matthew 4:12-17) Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people who sat in darkness have a seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."

                             

 He would be betrayed by 30 pieces of silver: Zechariah 11:12-13 NKJV 12 Then I said to them, "If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain." So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.13 And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter---that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter.

 (fulfilled in Matthew 27:3-10 ) 3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasure, because they are the price of blood." 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD directed me."

Christ’s Resurrection Prophesied: Job 19:23-27 Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! 24 that they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 and after my skin is destroyed, this I know; that in my flesh I shall see God.

 (fulfilled in John 5:24-29) 24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 " For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 "And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29"and come forth---those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

 Yes, increments of time to study, time to wed, time to work, time to have children, time to retire (?) and the time to go at last into eternity. And whether we had time for Jesus on earth will determine where we will be seen. Yes, we most likely made it to those classes to earn that degree, even went overseas to study for awhile you know, and then one day got that good job. Then a decade has ended and a new one began in seeing a wedding planned and at some point within that decade children enter the new home. Another increment of time and children graduate from high school, they study, have careers and bring their children over to visit the grandparents: Poppi and Mimi! (oh my) No, that is not our names. Please do not call me Mimi, please! But in all of those increments of time, was God placed in the space of time anywhere within a life?

For the Old Testament mentioned Christ's resurrection and it was given again in John 5! It is those who have done good to the resurrection of life and it is of those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

We can see people living their lives and make a point to post it some where. They can tell a story or post a picture from the latest thing or event, but was God a part of it?  Our living is to be holy unto the Lord. And Scripture has been given to lead us to eternity with Jesus! Hopeful we have those set times throughout our day and week that God is first indeed. It is only through Him that we find the Door that is a life in abundance that is of the good, the righteous, the true and is joyful indeed.

Hopefully that in Him, we find the true will of God that Jesus Christ the Redeemer sowed. For certain in this world is sin and misery and the Gospel presented by Jesus was for the purpose of training and testing to become the true witnesses for Him in the preparation of the coming kingdom. We are placed where He desires us to be, and He teaches us by His Holy Spirit. What great price by which the Spirit of God was given! Let us not take it lightly but understand that in Him we live, we move and have our being. We are heirs of His family and eternal life is a guarantee with Him. Hope to see you there!

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

The Declaring Word

https://youtu.be/A2PL0YCBfec

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

 http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Promptings of the Holy Spirit

https://youtu.be/NbsGhIQ5qOg

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

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Leaping and Whirling

2 Samuel 6:12-23 NKJV Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house. 20 Then David returned to bless his house-hold. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base bellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" 21 So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. 22 "And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken by them I will be held in honor." 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had not children to the day of her death.

Was thinking and meditating on this before noon today. And I have always loved this passage and visit it often. I was watching a teaching out of Europe and the praise and worship was tremendous in that while you hear the "anointed" singer, you hear many scripture verses come to mind. I love how the Holy Spirit does that wonderful thing to motivate us to action. So while I am hearing the music and the words that declare the Lord, I hear that which is within scripture as well.

How exciting to be brought into a worship service many thousands of miles away to experience the same worship. Within that I worship voicing His goodness, I go to action to write for His glory and not mine!
2 Samuel 6:13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and the all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

Food for thought: it was David who had removed his kingly robe to dance as the people dance who hold no title, no position! His thought from the heart was to worship God in the testimony from Obed-Edom's house where the Lord blessed his household while they housed the very ark of God! Yes, Obed-Edom's house and property had been blessed by the LORD God while housed in the country!
Michal has no regard of respect to her husband and the God he serves. She regards his dancing as unworthy since his royal clothing was removed.
We must be careful not to touch God's anointed for it is certain judgment does come to those who think they are right in their own eyes. Michal was one who thought she knew better and accused David of being publicly indecent! David's reply to her was that he held a high honor toward his God and would not be stifled in his enthusiasm when worshiping the very God who was life to him.  Because she despised her husband and his actions, what she had beheld from that window would keep her isolated from others. She would bare no children for all of her life. How sad is that? But indeed it was her resentful attitude that held her there. She chose to be disrespectful to her husband David and to him who was king of Israel!

How do we handle the things of God? David certainly gave the example of the 'fear and trembling' before God, to have the fear of the LORD! God knows that we are dust. He knows us from our mother's womb. He has regard for those He creates. We know this because He sent His Son as the sacrifice for our sin!

Solomon the son of King David wrote this: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

God had given them instruction for moving the ark, and David in his exuberance to worship the LORD sacrificed the fatted sheep and oxen. Can you imagine the amount of animals used to sacrifice all the way to the city from that country house? David revered God in bringing the ark back to the city. David loved God!

For Today, God’s command remains the same. Respect must be given and those in authority have come by God's design. Whether it be a president, or a police officer, we are to give respect to those in their respective offices. Certainly we learn as the young to obey our parents and yet not all parents will give what is the godly command to their children. And in growing up, we are to respect those in office, but we also keep God's commands for that which rules in this nation we call home. God should be the only source of inspiration to us. David was inspired by the goodness of God to worship God without the kingly rule of robes, but by David himself as the man who loved God more than the seat of the king that he held.

At the end of that day, and bringing the ark of God to the city, it was David who sent food home with everyone who was there within the area. He distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to house. 
Who blessed them with all that food: God did it!

What a day that was for the citizens to have God in their midst! Will we leap and whirl and give thanks for this day that God is in our midst? For certainly there is man who does not want God in anything. It constitutes humanism and how man thinks they can live without God the creator.

May David be our example so that we too would be the examples of God in our midst, that we are leaping and whirling proclaiming His goodness to us in the land of the living. If we dance today, may be with the humbled heart that seeks to glorify and honor the Father Who loves us deeply. Amen!

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Refreshing Shall Come

https://youtu.be/nCaKBGnd6fg
Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

 http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Promptings of the Holy Spirit

https://youtu.be/NbsGhIQ5qOg

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw

RARE

1 Samuel 3:1  NKJV   Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

Precious (KJV) is used in the sense of "rare."  Those things that are considered “Rare” are those things which are considered the precious or the valuable. In the sense that Eli and his priesthood carried no spoken words of inspiration from God, he was considered the “blind” nor did he have vision that was open toward God!  So that which was of God was left out of that given and most likely consisted of human inspired things. Yikes!

When you get into the story of Eli, we find him neither a good father figure nor a priest of morals. His sons were declared to die both of them in one day!

1 Samuel 2 :29-36 NKJV 29 “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in my dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people. 30”Therefore the LORD God of Israel says, “I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.” But now the LORD says: ‘Far be it from Me, for those who honor Me will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 31’Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 “And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 ‘But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. 34 ‘Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni, and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. 35 ‘Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. 36 ‘And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, “ Please, put me in one of the priestly positions that I may eat a piece of bread.”

As the priests, they were no make the truth open and clear to the people. But these did not hear God, so they did not minister God’s truth to the people of Israel.  So the young Samuel now would be brought up to know God.  It would the young Samuel who would lie down by the altar of God and wait for God's instructions. 

Yes, the word had been “rare” in those days but there was coming light into the darkened areas that this priest and his sons had lavished with much sin. It was their sin that blocked that which God so vitally wanted them to have.

Those sons of Eli used their position to extort meat for their own use.  They robbed the offerings and seized even the peace offerings. And God was displeased with them in how they acted, and how they dishonored this priestly position with much wickedness. Even in chapter 2 and verse 22 we are told that Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Yes, the women were to do menial tasks at the entrance to the tabernacle, but this was not one of thos menial task for them! So sin was rampant even to the entrance of the tabernacle!

Are we raising our children for the Lord or for the ways that Eli raised his own two sons? For we are to honor the Lord and have that relationship helps us to know God and understand the walk with Him brings us that closer walk to know Him and to know His ways. 

But if we raise our children yielding to the children as Eli did his sons, then only death is seen.  The elder gentleman did not have the respect from his two sons. It is given that he was slighted by them. He held no rebuke out to them for their really bad behavior. And the leniency he provides them only makes them more outrageous in their corrupt ways!

Samuel the prophet was called and it was his praying mother that presented him to the Lord in that service. Presented to the priest Eli in Shiloh, Samuel began ministering to the Lord. 

It was Eli and his sons that were in the office of priest because of their heritage was found among their descendants like Aaron. But now the obscure young Levite named Samuel would take the place of prophet before the altar in the presence of God to hear instructions.

Will we stay close to the Lord and hear as He instructs us through His word of truth?  The true was going to be raised up and there would be a prophet in Shiloh….and God did not let his words fall to the ground. For when the prophet Samuel spoke, he spoke truly!

Father, help us to see the importance of Your words of life to us! Help us to see what is important for life in these days of chaos on earth. Help us if we have wandered off from the straight and narrow to the super highway of the world to serve self instead of Your honor and words of life. How can we move into being in concert with You for the days ahead?

Father, Your words are top priority to us. They are spirit and they are life. We let the Word of God dwell in us richly in all wisdom.  We have learned that the ability of God is released within us by the words of our mouth and by the Word of God. 

Help us see when we falter in this endeavor of regarding truth above error!

We believe for change, but we know it only comes by speaking what You speak Father. So today, we choose to speak YOUR words out of our mouth. They are alive in us at this moment. You are alive and working in us, so we can boldly say that our words are words of faith, words of power, words of love, and words of life. They produce good things in our life and in the lives of others. Because we choose Your Words for our lips, we choose Your will for our life, and we go forth in the power of those words to perform them.

Thank You for the paths of mercy and truth to those who keep Your covenant of blood through Jesus Christ. It is YOU Who whispers Your unconditional love deep into our souls and remind us that Your mercies are new every morning.

 You are our Strength & Shield; May our hearts always trust in You and songs of praise may we always give. For we know to render that which is for our God Most High, who knows the voice of our supplications when we cry, who gives us courage in our hearts and gives us eyes to see the spiritual.

Eli did not much for his sons, but he certainly took time with Samuel to teach him and demonstrate to us the steps to encourage a youth to hear God's voice. For we know You speak to us and we pray that we hear You when You speak our name out to us!

Father we see a true servant is to be faithful in heart to You. May our hearts be set toward You, especially as we look for YOUR return.  We continue to lift our prayers before you, not only for our families but this nation as well. 

We ask for strength in this walk of faith for You give strength to them who are weary and You increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and men stumble and fall; but those who hope in You Lord, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. The will walk and not faint. No matter our age dear Lord, may we soar on high for Your glory and to Your praise. 

Lord, You are our Strength and our Song. You have become our Salvation. We praise You  with our hearts exalting You in Your unfailing love it is You who lead the people YOU have redeemed…… in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Refreshing Shall Come

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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Righteousness and NOT RIGHTS

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